The State and City Building in downtown Roanoke received the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification on Monday, March 10th, making it the first building in the Roanoke and New River Valleys to meet the rigorous standards.

The LEED certification plaque was presented by Sharlyn Underwood, founder of the USGBC Southwest Virginia Chapter, to owner Rob Glenn; John A. Garland, President of Spectrum Design and Stanley G. Breakell, President of Breakell Inc. in a ceremony held in downtown Roanoke. Also participating in the ceremony were The Honorable Congressman Bob Goodlatte and The Honorable Gwen Mason, Roanoke City Council member.

Spectrum Design and Breakell Inc., partners in the design and construction of the project, worked together closely to fulfill the requirements of the LEED certification process. The five areas of concentration in the LEED guidelines are: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The historic restoration and renovation of the eight-story State and City Building accommodated an existing jewelry store, one floor of new commercial office space, and seven residential levels comprised of new 4,000 sq. ft. condominiums and one 8,000 sq. ft. penthouse. The exterior faÃ§ade was restored using custom designed, pre-cast concrete masonry blocks to match the original design. The unique lobby design was recalled with the restoration of the original chandelier, marble flooring and brass elevators.